This project will seek to verify the estimate that 40 percent of people killed in motor vehicle crashes were alive at the scene and determine if improvements in pre-hospital care would increase survivability.
Status: In Development
Using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), the research will verify the estimate that 40 percent of crash fatalities were alive when responders arrived by reviewing a sample of cases where victims did not die immediately. The study will also evaluate whether early blood transfusion can improve survival in patients with hemorrhagic shock, a condition in which prompt access to blood products may reduce the risk of multiple organ dysfunction.
The project will assess how improved response times, expanded access to blood products and other pre‑hospital care options could have changed outcomes. It will draw on the sources cited in the project description, including national EMS assessments, education standards, workforce agendas, research agendas, the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS) and guidance from the National Academies, NHTSA, the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and the National Association of State EMS Officials.